Cooper to race Buildbase BMW at Brands

Buldbase BMW’s newly crowned National Superstock 1000 Champion Richard Cooper will be competing in both the Superstock and BSB races at this weekend's season finale at Brands Hatch.

The Nottinghamshire rider clinched the Superstock crown at Silverstone but victory celebrations were cut short, however, as the team's compound was broken into on the evening after the race, with thieves stealing a support van, Richard's Superstock machine, a BSB-spec S 1000 RR and tens of thousands of pounds of tools and race parts.

However, the two race bikes have now been recovered intact - spotted hidden in a road-side field by an eagle-eyed BMW-riding member of the public!

Team owner Stuart Hicken said: "I have to thank Martin Quigley for discovering our missing bikes. His vigilance means we're able to race at the final round of the season and allow Richard to hopefully finish his year in style. Richard's hard work and consistency this year will be rewarded with the chance to compete in British Superbikes, and Martin and his wife will be the welcome guests of the team at the race.

"Both Richard and Barry Burrell spent the weekend racing at the Stars of Darley Moor event where they finished ahead of John McGuinness, Luke Stapleford, Keith Amor and Ian Lougher. Richard won both races on the BSB-spec bike he'll be running this weekend, providing some very setup time and on-track experience. Barry finished second in both races on his EVO-spec machine. In addition, both Richard and Barry broke the lap record and overall race record several times, with Richard eventually setting the fastest lap time of the event.

"We're delighted to be able to compete in the final round and, despite losing much of our equipment and spares to the thieves, thanks to the help and support of our friends in the paddock and the motorcycle industry, Mr Quigley, and the very hard work of the team, we'll be able to finish the season on a high.

"With Richard Cooper racing in both Superstock and BSB, Barry Burrell aiming for a top-three finish in the BSB-EVO series and Lee Jackson riding our second BSB bike, it's going to be another busy, but hopefully successful, weekend's racing."